Process of extracting oil



May 31, 1932.

P. R. HORNBROOK ,3 PROCESS OF EXTRACTING on.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10. 1926 fiweniof P- R. HORNBROOK PROCESS OF EXTRAC'IING OIL May 31, 1932.

'2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi 1ed Sept. 10. 1 92 ALL I Ira) 92%;, Q far/$7006 Patented May 31, 1932 rm 3. nomeoonor mrw roux, at. Y.

OFFICE rnocnss or :axmcrme on.

"Application filed September 10, 1920. Serial No. 1mm.

Thisinvention relates to a separator and process,- and more particularly to aseparator and process for extracting oil from linseed meal, cotton seed meal and other oil jq materials, and its object is the provision of a generally improved and simplified separator and process for more completely separating the oil or other substance and for doing it expeditiously and in a continuous proces.

ed to be fed through the separator continuously in the treatment thereof and im surface exposure to the solvent for removing or extracting the oil is gradually increased as it is 16 fed through the separator. The duration of the process, that is, the length of time during which the material is treated, is conveniently adjustable. A centrifugal washing action or a series of centrifugal washmgand washing actions are combined with centrifugal cleaningan'd drying actions, and the enj trance of air and formation of explosive mixtures'is prevented. The meal or other oil bearing material may be crushed, packed, and fed to the se arator in a continuous process, and is fed ough the separator continuously in the separating or oil extraction operations and delivered from the separator free or partially free from oil. The solvent, after passing thro h the stagesof greater surface exposure d f the oil or other solute bearing material to the solvent, may be delivered progressively to the stages of less surface exposure, and the steam employed 1n the drying stage may also be re-delivered' as condensate to one of the preceding stages preferably the first from which the oil is withdrawn and dehveredto the still or other point.

To more fully acquaint those skilled in the art with the separator and process of my present invention, I shall now a particular embodiment of the same in conne ction with the accompanying drawings, m which Figure 1 is anend view partially broken away of a separator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2,'is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. I;

Figure 3 is a more-or less atic side elevation showing the location of the heater. coils.

Referring to the drawings the separator shown comprises an enclosing housing or container 5 having a top 6, bottom 7, end walls 8 and side walls 9. The container 5 is supported by legs 10, preferably with the closed bottom 7 elevated above the support- The oil hearing, or other material is adapting surface.

Disposed within the container 5 is a drum 12 rotatably journaled at one end in a suitable bearing 13 on one of the end walls 8 and rotatably supported toward its opposite open end 14 on rollers 15 journaled in suitable brackets suitably secured the container 5. e

The drum 12 is of perforated metal or other (pervious material and-it is provi e the cylindrical separator compartments 18, 19, 20 and 21 of progressively increasing size, for the, different stages of sepstepped to aration. The drum portions 18, 19, 20and 21 have a common axis of rotation in the bearings 13 and 15 and the surface of the drum is referably provided with a covering 22 of. suitable filter cloth. The filter cloth 22 is shown on the outside of the drum, but it may, of course, be on the inside if desired.

'The interior of. the container'5 is divided transversely by partitions 25 into chambers 26, 27 28 and 29, one of which underlies each of the drum portions 18, 19, 20 and 21, respectively, so that the solvent and suspended solute which passes from the respective drum portions is maintained separated in the container 5. For this tions 25 is disposed at each of the opposite ends of the drum portions 18, 19, 20 and 21, the end wall 8 of the'container 5 closing the opposite end of the chamber 26. The partitions 25 may may extend up only to substantially the axis of rotation of the drum 5, extending, of course, transversely through the entire width of the reception chamber of the container, and dividing the same into the'chambers 26,

27,28and2.

For rotatingthe drum12aringgear30 purpose one of the partiextend vertically throughout the entire height of the container, or they i 20. The steppe surrounds and is secured to the periphery of the drum ortion 19 to turn the drum with rotation o the gear. Meshing with the ring gear 30 is a pinion 32 fixed upon a shaft 33 to turn therewith. The shaft 33 is journaled at one end in a bracket 34 depending from the top wall 6 of the container and at its opposite end in the end wall 8 of the container, and externally of the end wall 8 the shaft 33 has a sprocket 35 fixed thereon to turn the shaft with it. A drive shaft 36 overlies and is journaled in suitable hearings on the top of the container 5 and this shaft 36 has a sprocket 37 fixed thereon to be driven thereby. The shaft 36 may be driven from any suitable source as through a suitable belt connection (not shown), and a sprocket chain 38 is trained about the sprockets 35 and 37 and drives the shaft 33 and through it the drum 12.

Rotatable within the stepped drum 12 is a stepped frame 40 which carries a stepped helical screw 42 disposed helically about the stepped portions 18 and 19 of the frame 40 having its periphery fittingl snugly within the corresponding stepped-= portions of the drum 12 and cooperating closely with the interior of the ste 'ped drum portions 19 and portions 20 and 21 of the frame 40 are provided with blades 42 which are'helically disposed with respect to each other, 9n the arms of the frame 40 and form a helical continuation of the screw 42 for feeding the material thru the separator. The screw frame 40 is rotatably journaled at 43 and 44 on a tube or sleeve 45 which extends axially through the drum 12, extending at one end 'thru the end plate 8 and into the adjacent end of an elbow 46, which connects the drum with the conduit through which the meal or. other oil, or solute bearing material, is fed into the small end 18 of the drum 12. The opposite'end of the sleeve 46 extends through the opposite end wall 8 of the housing 5 and through a provided on the end wall thereof.

For rotating the screw 42 a gear 50 is suitably secured or connected to the frame 40 to turn or rotate the screw therewith. Meshing with the gear 50 is a pinion 52 suitably fixed to turn with a shaft 53 which is driven from the main drive shaft 36 as" by means of a suitable driving chain 54. The shaft 53 is journaled at one end in a bearing 55 on the adj acent end wall 8, and at its'inner or opposite end in a bearing 56 supported inwardly of the end'wall 8 by suitable brackets 58.

The meal or other oil or solute bearing material is introduced by a feeder, designated generally at 60 and comprising a hopper 62 and a chute or conduit 63 opening axially into the smallend 18 of the drum 12 through 7 the elbow 46.

The feeder 60 is preferably in the form of a rollcrusher, although it may be a feeder of suitable fitting 48 previously crushed material acting as the feeder. A suitable 'packer 64, disposed in the feed conduit or chute 63 ad'acent the hopper 62 is driven from the sha 36 by means of a chain 65. The feeder or crusher shaft 66 carries a pinion 67 which meshes with a gear 68 on the upper end of a vertical shaft 69-. f The .shaft 69 extends down axially through the intermediate portion of the chute or conduit 63, being suitably journaled therein, and is provided with impellers 70 and 71 which turn with the shaft'69 and impel the meal or other solute bearing material toward and into the drum 12, packing it firmly together, expelling air, and compressing so as to absorb vapor when expanding after passing the hood 80.

This manner of feedingthe material to the drum keeps air from entering the drum with the material and prevents the formation of explosive mixtures within the drum.

Underlying the feeder 60 is a vaporizer 75 which may be mounted upon the adjacent end wall 8 of thehousing 5, and which is provided internally with a suitable heater, shown in the form of a coil 76. The vaporizer 7 5 has agauge glass 77 and a vapor outlet 78 which extends up through the wall of thechute 63 and delivers into the material as it is. fed through the chute to the drum 12. The upper end of the vapor delivery tube 78 is provided with a generally conical hood 80 providing an annular passage 82 from which the vapor issues beneath it, and the hood deflects the meal or other material about and away from the upper open end of the tube 78,

and prevents the material from entering or clogging the tube.

The. liquid supplied to the vaporizer 75 is preferably the same as that used as the solvent in the present process although, of course, this may vary. The heater coil 76 is preferably a steam coil, although this too may vary.

- The solvent, which is preferably carbon tetrachloride, naphtha, or any other solvent which will separate the oil' or other solute from the meal or other material containing the same, through a pipe or duct 84 to the third stage or compartment 28 of the drum 12. The

pipe 84 enters one end of the sleeve 45 and extends therethrough, being bent so as to extend radially through the sleeve 45 in the compartment 28. The radially turned portion of'the pipe 84 is indicated at 85 and the solvent issues therefrom and passes through the meal, or other material, disposed about the drum portion 20, through the pervious drum portion and coverin and into the compartment 28 from which the solvent, and such is delivered from a suitable source solute as is now carrie'd thereby, may be withdrawn b means of a suitablepump 86 and delivered y a pipe or duct 88 to the second stage or compartment 27 of the drum.

' issues from this ra ,passes through the material in the drum fpor- "is turned radially Like the pipe 84 the pipe 88 enters one end of the sleeve 45 and extending therethrou h and opens through the sleeve 45 and into the drum portion 27. The radially turned end of the pipe 88 is indicated at 89, and the su ply through the pipe 88 'ally tumed'end 89 and tion 19 and. t drum and its covering, ment 27. 7

- The contents of the compartment 27 may be drawn ofl by a pump 90 and delivered through a pipe 92 to the first stage or compartment 26. The pipe 92 also extends rough the pervious wall 0 the and into the compartthrough the sleeve 45 and is turned radially at 93 to discharge through the material in the drum portion 18 and through thepervious wall of the drum portion 18 and its covering into the compartment 26. V

The compartment 26 is preferably divided by a vertical filter 95 with the flow from the drum entering the compartment 26 on one I sideof the filter 95, and the outlet 96 to the still or other point leading from the compartment 26 on the opposite side of the filter 95. This prevents any meal, or other foreign may be driven or undesirable substances which may find their way to the compartment 26, from entering the line 96 which leads from the .separator. The line 96 may be provided with a suitable pump 98 for withdrawing the oil bearing-solvent from the compartment 26 on one side of the filter 95, and delivering it to a still for distilling out the oil, or to any other suitable point. j

A pipe 100 also enters the sleeve45 and is bent radially to extend therethrough within the drum portion 21. The radially turned portion 102 of the pipe 100 delivers steam through the material in the drum portion 21, and thru the pervious wall of the drum and its covering to the compartment 29, from where the steam and solvent condensate may be withdrawn by a pump 103 and delivered through a pipe connection 104 to the pipe 92 which delivers the contents of the compartment 27 to the drum portion 18, to be supplied therewith to the drum portion 18, orfirst stage of'separation.

The centrifu a1 pumps. 86, 90, 98 and. 103

-om the overhead drive shaft 36 by means of belts 200, 201, 202 and 203 spectively on-the drive shaft 36 and-over sui able pulleys on ther through the housing trained over pulleys 204 .205, 206 and 207.1

the respective pump shafts, as shown. e

The sides of the compartment 21 are pref: erably provided with vertical steam coilsllO (Figures 1 and 3) for aiding the drying ac tion along the drum portion 21. These heat er coils 110 may, of course, extend fur- 5, 'or they may be disposed otherwise through the compartment 29, as desired. The heatercoils and screw 110. are'shown as being disposed at oppodte sides of the enclosure 5, tions extending along the sidesof the drum. and their lower portions extending down into the chambers 26, 27, 28 and 29, as shown in Fig.2.

In operation the ground up linseed meal, cotton seed meal, or other material containing the oil or other solute which it is desired to recover, is delivered to the hopper 62. The feeder feeds or crushes the material and feeds it through the chute 63 axially into one end of the drum portion 18. The feeder by its crushin and packing action prevents the entrance 0? air with the material, and as the material is discharges solvent into the material withtheir upper por so fed to the drum the vaporizer 7 5 V y The driving connections for the drum 12 i 42 are set to rotate the drum and screw in the same direction asthe material is fed into the drum. The speeds of rotation of the drum and screw are, however, different, and it is speeds which material throu length or duratlon ofthe process. r V The drum is connected to be driven at a slower speed than the screw 42. The limits of speed of rotation of the drum depend upon changes the rate of feed of the its size and the relative speeds of the drum and screw are determined by the length of time of the process. That is, the capacity for a given size machine and maximum speedv is limited only by the construction of the drumand the minimum speed is limited to that speed at which the materialceases to adhere in a layer to the inner periphery of the drum.

portion 18 it is distributed about the inner periphery thereof and the pitch of the helical screw 42 and bladias 42' coupled with the differences in the speeds of rotation of the drum and screw, causes the screw and blades tofeed, the material longitudinally ofthe drum to the second stage or drum portion 19, wherein due to the greater size of the drum portion 19 the material is spread and its surface exposure to the solvent or other liquid increased.

Similarly, the material is fed onto the next drum ,portion 20, where it is still further spreadand its surface exposure still further increased, and onto the next drying drum portion 21 where it is again spread and its surface exposure again increased.

From the drum portion 21 the oil free and this difierential orthe relative gh the drum and thereby the As the oilbearing material enters the drum v iently adjusted by shown, for excluding air from the housing 5,

although, of course, the steam would tend to drive out any air which might tend to enter.

From the foregoing it will now be appar cut that the process is a continuous one with a gradual thinning and spreading of the oil bearing material as it is fed through the drum, and a gradual concentration of the oil in the solvent up to the compartment 26 from which it is withdrawn from the separator. The oil bearing material is gradually spread and thinned out as it passes from the inlet end of the drum, and the solvent is gradually concentrated oppositely toward that point. The washing and separating actions are at least partially centrifugal ones and the drying action in the drum portion 21 is also a centrifugal one. The separation is complete and expeditious and there is no danger from explosions, 'or the like. Also stopping and starting for recharging and continuing the process are avoided, and the time intervals or duration of the process may be conven changing the relative" speeds of rotation of the screw 42 and drum 12. A

The enlargement of the drum portions 18, 19, 20 and 21, one over the other from left to right or with the movement of the oil hearing material through the drum, increases the surface exposure and thins thev oil bearing material in its movement through the drum. The drum portion 19 gives the material a greater surface exposure than the drum portion 18, the drum portion 20 a greater surface exposure and thinner condition than the drum portion 19 and the drum portion 21 a greater surface exposure and thinner condition than the drum portion 20. a

In operation, clean solvent is pumped from a source of supply into the compartment 28 being pumped from the compartment 28 to the compartment 27, then to the compartment I 26 and then to the stills, in the manner already pointed out. The compartment 26 and vaporized chamber 75 have a pipe connec-' tion 221 andthere is no level maintaining provision for the compartments except for the compartment 26 where the pump take-off 220 is above the heating coils 6 to assure a certain level in the vaporizer chamber 75.

The temperature in the vaporizer chamber 7 5 is to be above the vaporization point of the solvent. The solvent vapor comes in contact with the oilbearing material as this 501- vent vapor is expandingdue to having passed the restriction provided by the conical hood 80 and the vapor is absorbed and condensed, better preparing the material for the release of oil in the presence .of the solvent.

The temperature of the live steam used is preferably efrom 212 degrees Fahrenheit to superheat sufiicient to dispel solvent from the material. It should be noted that the application of the steam along the drum portion 21 isin jet form, small portion of material at a given time. This is' to dispel and vaporize the. solvent simultaneously using the centrifugal action to throw off the condensate. No means is shownwithin the apparatus for separating the condensed steam and solvent. This may be done in the still and condenser, making the separation of oil and'solvent not a part of this apparatus, althou h the present invention is intended to apply whether this sepa-. ration is in the separating apparatus shown min a separate apparatus. The entire apparatus may be vented to the condenser for relieving pressure due to solvent or water vapor.

The water delivered into the compartment 29 by the steam treatment of the material in the region adjacent this compartment may be deliveredinto the pipe line 92, along with the oil and solvent to be separated out at the distilling apparatus, or otherwise as desired,

for the water may be separated out directly at the compartment 29, or at any other desired point.

1. The process of oil bearing material which comprises, moving the material in a continuous path, gradually spreading the material in its movement along said path to thin the material, increase the surface exposure thereof and to give the material different thicknesses, delivering a solvent thru diflerentthicknesses of the material across its path of movement and through the thinned portion thereof for the purposes of extracting the oil therefrom and withdrawing the solvcnt' and extracted oil.

2. The process of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises, moving the material 'in a continuous path, gradually spreading the material in itsmovement along said path to increase the surface ex'- posure thereof, delivering a solvent thru the material along a region of greater ex osure and withdrawing the solvent passe thru said region of greater exposure and redelive'ring same to the material along a region of less exposure. v

3.v The process of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises, moving the material in a continuous path, gradua y spreading the material in its movement a ong said path to increase the surface exposure thereof, delivering a solvent thru the material along a region of greater exposure, withdrawing the soli ent passed thru said region of greater exposure and redelivering sameto the material along a region of less exposure and drying the material by passing steam across its path of movement and alongacting under pressure on a.

separating. oil from an still, and drying the material by passing-- along said path to increase the surface exposure thereof, passing a solvent thru the material alonga region of greater exposure,

withdrawing the solvent passed thru' saidreglon of greater exposure and redelivering it tothe material-along a region of less exposure, withdrawing and delivering the solvent from the region of less exposure to a steam across its path of movement along a region of greater exposure and beyond the delivery of solvent to the material.

'5. The method ofseparating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises spreading the material to thin same, applying to the oil bearing'material a solvent adapted for separating vthe oil therefrom and applying a vapor of the solvent to relatively compacted region of the oil bearing material. and prior prepare t r to the ap lication of the solvent thereto to lie-material for the release of the oil in the presence of the solvent.

6. The. method of separating oil from an oil. bearing material which comprises, centrifiigally disposing the material in a surroun 'ng ring, moving the ring of material axially, increasing the diameter of the ring and thinning the ring of materialin its axial movement and toward the region of complethinning the material in its movement by in tion of the process and deliverin a solvent through the material and across its path 0 movement. U V 1 7. The method of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises centrifugally disposing the material in a surrounding ring, moving the ring of material axially, increasing the diameter of the ring and thinning the rin of material in its axial movement and toward the region of completion of the process and treating the material with'a solvent for extracting the oil therefrom.

'8. The method of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises 'cen -trifugally disposing the material in a surrounding'ring, moving axially, thinning the ring of material in its axial movement, treating the material with a solvent prior to its thinnest stage and applying steam at the thinnest stage for drying and removing excess moisture.

9. The. method of separating oil from an oil bearing materialwhich comprises moving the material in generally ring-like formation,

creasing. the diameterof the ring-like forma-' tion toward the region of completion of the process and passing solvent through the ringlike formation of'material.

10. The method of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises moving the material in generally ring-like formation,

' terial at di erent points along the path of the material process, passing solvent through the matee ring of materialthinning the material in its movement by increasing the diameter of the rin -like formation toward the region of comp etion'of'the process and assing solvent through the mamovement and through regions of the material of different thicknesses. 11. The method of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises moving in generally ring-like formation, thinning the material in its'movement by increasing'the diameter of the ring-like formation toward the region of completion of the rial at different points along the path ofmovement and through regions of the material of difierent thicknesses, and maintaining the solvent passed through diiferent regions of the material at'difierent points along the ath of movement separated after passage t ough the material. 12. The method of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises moving the material in generally ring-like formation, thinning the material in its movement byincreasing the diameter of the ring-like formation toward the region of completion of the process, passingsolvent through the material at different points along the path of movement and through regions of the material of' different thicknesses, and maintaining the solvent passed through difierent regions of the material at difi'erent points along the path of {movement separated after passa e through the material, the solvent passed t rough the material along the region of one thickness constituting after passage throu 'h the ma- 7 terial a source of solvent supply for the material along a region of another thickness.

13. The method of separating oil'from an oil bearingmaterial which comprises movingthe material in generally ring like formation, thinning the materialin its movement by increasing the diameter of the ring-like formation toward the region of completion of the process, passing solvent through the ring-1i 0 formation of material and passing steam through saidring-like formation of material beyond the passage of solvent through said material. I

' 14. The method of separating oil from an oil bearing material which comprises moving the materialin generally ring-like formation, thinning the material in its movement by increasing the diameter of the ring-like formation toward the region of completion of the process, passing solvent'through' the ring-like formation of material, passing steam through said ring-like formation of material beyond the passage of solvent through said material and withdrawing the'solvent passed through"v the material and delivering same to a still.

15. The method of separating oil from an oilbearing material which comfprises moving I the material through a region 0 solvent treatment, thinning the material in its movement through said region, to give the material different thicknesses in its passage through said region, and passing solvent through different thicknesses of said material.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of Au st, 1926. PHILIP R. 4110 NBROOK. 

